Can You Provide A Traineeship?

A Traineeship is an education and training programme with work experience that is focused on giving young people the skills and experience that employers are looking for. At its core are work preparation training, English and maths for those who need it, and a high quality work experience placement.

Traineeships can last up to six months and include:

Work preparation training

English and maths* support if required

A work experience placement of six weeks to six months with an employer

In addition to these basic elements, you and the training provider can add flexible additional content to meet the needs of your business and the local labour market

What Are The Benefits Of Offering Traineeships?

Traineeships have been developed in response to research showing that young people frequently lack the knowledge and experience employers expect in the workplace.

Traineeships will help to tackle this problem, while benefiting you in the following ways:

As an employer, you can design a high quality Traineeship within your company in partnership with SS&L - one that suits both the needs of your business and the needs of the trainee

You can get ahead of the competition by bringing enthusiastic young people with their fresh ideas into your business before they get on to the job ladder

Traineeships will allow you to shape the skills and experience of young people from your local community, helping your business to develop a loyal and talented workforce

Working with trainees will give established staff members the chance to develop their skills in mentoring and coaching young people

If you decide to offer a trainee an Apprenticeship you could be eligible for an Apprentice Grant for Employers of £1500**

What Will My Business Need To Provide?

Your company will need to provide a high quality work experience placement for the trainee, lasting anything from six weeks to a maximum of five months.

Work experience placements should be:

Substantial and meaningful, providing a real workplace experience

A structured opportunity for the young person, matched to their areas of interest and aspiration, where they engage in purposeful work related learning activities rather than observation

Long enough to allow for the development and thorough embedding of new skills and behaviours

Employers should be able to:

Pre-agree content and objectives between your company, SS&L and the trainee

Identify a mentor to support the trainee and give them regular constructive feedback throughout the programme

Once the young person has finished their Traineeship with your company, you will need to give them:

I deally, an interview for a position within your business if one is available

If no Apprenticeship or job opportunity exists within your business at the end of the Traineeship, provide a meaningful exit interview together with a reference to help them secure an Apprenticeship or other employment with another employer

Is It A Rigid Training Programme?

No, Traineeships are very flexible, and by working closely with SS&L you can design a programme which suits your needs and those of the trainee.

SS&L will assess the needs of the trainee. Depending on the individual, they will start the pre-employment elements including local business and sector information.

Are There Financial Costs To Offering Traineeships?

All training costs are met by Government funding. Employers are not required to pay young people taking part in Traineeships but are encouraged to support trainees with expenses such as transport and meals.

*All young people undertaking a Traineeship will be required to study English and maths, unless they have achieved a GCSE A*-C in those subjects or, for those aged 19-23, a GCSE A*-C in those subjects or a functional skills qualification at level 2. A full level 2 qualification is equivalent to five GCSEs at Grades A*-C and a full level 3 qualification is equivalent to two or more A Level passes.